Everyone becomes part of the music-making in the Guy Mendilow Ensemble's family concerts! Through colorful songs, stories and games, the Guy Mendilow Ensemble transports families on an exhilarating interactive adventure through Ensemble members' diverse homes worldwide. In this highly musical, pedagogically-sound performance, families encounter vibrant characters and some of the band's most fascinating "stars:" instruments like overtone singing, the munnharpa (jaw harp) and musical bow and arrow.

Artist Statement

"Only our best is just good enough for children." — Zoltán Kodály

Children's Workshop | Curious George (PBS)

That's a sentiment we take to heart because we know that children's early music experiences shape the rest of their musical lives. It’s a responsibility — and a privilege — to give our very best to children. Drawing on our experience as a music educators, teacher trainers and parents, we strive to create the most engaging, interactive and pedagogically sound concerts for young audiences. — Guy Mendilow

Our school audiences were absolutely enthralled by the Guy Mendilow Ensemble. Guy’s compelling presence draws young people into a musical and narrative journey that sparkles with humor and humanity, compassion and joy.

Around the World in Song is a wonderfully engaging, deeply musical experience. As enchanting as it is pedagogically sound, the show includes meaningful roles for the children at every turn, conveyed with an underlying respect for children as fellow people.

In addition to his consummate musicianship, Guy Mendilow brought a high level of organization, responsiveness, and generosity to his residency that were an absolute joy to work with.

— Emily Laugesen, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, IL

Guy Mendilow Ensemble’s Around the World in Song is compelling, wonderfully engaging and deeply educational. For children, GME cultivates listening and musical skills in ways that are important and unusual, addressing contemporary social issues with tact, thoughtfulness and caring. Their performance was an inspiring event for me as an audience member and instructor, for my graduate students (all whom are teachers and pre-service teachers), and for the hundreds of elementary school children present. Warmly and enthusiastically recommended!

— Liora Bresler, University of IL, Champaign, IL

From the moment they began, the children were mesmerized. Guy Mendilow is not only a talented musician, but a gifted educator as well. He could read the group perfectly and knew exactly what the students needed next. The other musicians in the group were equally talented and the whole group together was one of the best performances I have experienced in over 26 years of education.

Guy Mendilow

M.M. Longy School of Music; International Certificate, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Longy School of Music; B.A. Oberlin College

Guy Mendilow is Director of Music and Education for the Guy Mendilow Ensemble, "An international tour de force” (Bethlehem Morning Call) from the Middle-East, South and North America. The Ensemble combines world-class musicianship with cinematic storytelling in shows that “explode with artistry, refinement, and excitement” (Hebrew Union College), whisking audiences to distant times and picturesque places to stir highly resonant connections to contemporary struggles and dilemmas.

The Guy Mendilow Ensemble was distinguished by the National Endowment for the Arts for public engagement with diverse and excellent art and the strengthening of communities through the arts, and is the recipient of grant awards from foundations like The Boston Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, Arts Midwest and Western Arts Alliance.

Alongside performance, Mendilow is active in music education, pursuing Dalcroze Education as a means of cultivating musicality while fostering vital skills such as deep focus and the sense of contribution, capability and belonging that together form esteem. Mendilow designs custom artist residencies for leading performing arts organizations like Celebrity Series of Boston and including innovative storytelling/songwriting projects with at-risk populations.

Mendilow’s research interests include music and culture of Sephardic communities of Salónica,in the early twentieth century.

Mendilow is a guest artist-lecturer in universities across the U.S. including Harvard University, Cornell University, Brandeis University, Oberlin College, University of Oregon and the University of Washington, leads children's workshops in schools worldwide and directs the Dalcroze School of Boston, offering Dalcroze Education for children and adults in the Boston area.